Method of and apparatus for making corrugated articles



Aug. 1936- J. G. c. MANTLE 2,050,228

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORRUGATED ARTICLES Original Filed July 18, 124 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I t l I v r g r 3/24 2 2/2.? t a Z2 16 j: 5 J 15 I 15 INVENTOR I ATT RNEY 1936- J. G. c. MANTLE 50, 28

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORRUGATED ARTICLES Original Filed July 18, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1936 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND'APPARATUS FOR- MAKING CORRUGATED ARTICLES Joseph G. C. Mantle, Leonia, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Bridgeport Thermostat Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 18, 1924, Serial No. 726,671. Divided and this application July 26,

1930,. Serial No. 470,829.

In Canada March 6,

26 Claims. (Cl. 153- 13) shells or tubes of ductile material. The shells or tubes may be drawn from sheet material, and may be either flanged or. plain.

An object of this invention is to rapidly and economically transform the shells or tubes into such shapes which, in general, could only heretofore be done by repeated annealings and operations or by first forming portions and then joining them together to form a whole. By my invention, a large number of shapes may be obtained in a single operation which the limited ductility of the material comprising the shell or tube would otherwise have rendered impossible.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for sealing the open end of a plain or' unflanged tube or shell before applying internal pressure and collapsing the shell or tube.

'A further object of this invention is the pro vision of a device whereby interior pressure is introduced into one end of the tube and a collapsing pressure is applied on the other end of the tube. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specifically pointed out in the description hereinafter contained which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, discloses a method and apparatus adapted to be operated in accordance with the invention.

. In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a vertical cross section of a contractible mold with a plain or unflanged shell or tube therein at the beginning of the operation. I

Figure 2 represents a vertical cross section of a contractible mold with a plain or unfianged shell or tube therein at the end of the first stage of the operation.

Figures 3 and 4 are separate plan views of certain parts of the contractible mold shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 represents a vertical cross section of a contractible mold with a plain shell or tube therein with a different means for applying the internal fluid pressure.

v Figure 6 represents a vertical cross section of a contractible mold with a plain or unflanged shell or tube open at both ends, the contractible mold being shown at the beginning of the operation.

55 Figures 7 and 8 show a flanged tube in a contractible mold at the beginning and end of the operation.

Figures 9 and 10 show two forms of a mechanism bywhich the punch-holder of a power press is utilized to collapse 2. contractible mold while 5 applying the internal fluid pressure.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1, 2,5 and 6 show shells or tubes having plain or unflanged ends. The shell or tube I is supported in a. contractible mold comprising bottom mold 10 part 2, intermediate mold parts 3 and a top mold part 4. Each of the mold parts 3 comprises two complemental sections 5 and 6, as shown in Figure 3, and each of the sections 5 and 6 is provided with a plurality of spaced lugs I. As shown 15 in Figure 3 sections 5 and 6 are divided along a line which also divides certain of the lugs into two parts, but it is to be expressly understood that the line of division between these sections may be taken at any place. Each mold part 3 is 20 supported and held together in an integral holder ,8, and each holder 8 is provided with an annular groove 9 adapted to receive the complemental sections 5 and 6 of the mold parts 3. Each holder 8 is also provided with spaced cutaway portions l0 corresponding in position and number to lugs 'I on the complemental sections 5 and 6 so that the sections may be placed within the annular groove 9 of the holderB and when given a slight twist or turn are securely held together and prevented from spreading apart during the operation.

The bottom mold part 2 is provided witha central depression or cutaway portion ll upon which the closed end of the tube or shell adapted to rest.

The top holder I2 is cup-shaped and is provided with an annular groove l3 in its lower interior surface for receiving the top mold part 4, the top mold 4 being formed of complemental sections similar to mold parts 3-, but mold part 4 is provided with an upstanding sleeve I4 which is adapted to surround a portion of the wall of the shell or tube. The top holder i2 will hereinafter be described in more detail.

' The top holder 12 and the intermediate holders 8 with mold parts 3, are held in spaced relation by the interposed curved leaf springs l5, one end of each spring being attached to the bottom portion of the holders and the other or free end of each other, and also acts as guides in preventing lateral movement of the holders.

The top holder [2 will now be described. Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the cup-shaped top holder 12 is provided with a tube 11 which communicates with the interior thereof and which is adapted to telescope into a reservoir I8 containing fluid under pressure. The top holder 12 is provided with a movable annular piston IS, the piston being provided on its bottom surface with I an annular groove 20 which is adapted to receive the end of the shell or tube 1. The groove 20 is preferably V-shaped in order to provide an effective sealing means for the open end of the shell or tube I. Between the piston 19 and the top mold part 4, the topholder I2 is provided with an opening 2| which is adapted to allow the escape of any pressure above atmospheric pressure. It will be seen that there is an unsupported area of the piston l9 surrounding the groove 20 which is open to the atmosphere by means of the opening 2 I, and consequently the shell or tube is automatically sealed when the fluid'pressure is applied to the interior of the shell by reason of the fact that the piston l9 then moves downwardly to tightly engage the end of the tube or shell I.

Figure 5 shows a slightly different embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, and differs therefrom in that a top holder 22 is provided with an upwardly extending sleeve23, which sleeve is adapted to slidably receive a plunger 24 of the power press to be later described. Top holder 22 is also provided with projections or lugs 25 which are forced downwardly by the collapsing means later to be described.

Referring now to Figure 6, reference character 26 designates a shell or tube open at both ends and formed with plain or unflanged ends. The

. top holder 21 is provided in its bottom portion with an annular groove 28 which is adapted to receive one end of the shell or tube 26, the groove preferably being V-shaped as described. in connection with Figure 1. The top holder 21 is provided with 2. depending circumferential flange portion 29 which is provided on its interior with an annular groove 311, the groove being adapted to receive a separable top mold part 31. The

means for connecting the top mold part 3| to the top holder 21 is similar to the means described in connection with Figure 1. The bottom holder 32 has an opening 33' in which is mounted a pipe 34' for conducting pressure to the interior of the tube 26. The bottom ho1der32 has an upstanding sleeve portion 32 which is formed with an annular groove 33.near its upper surface, the groove being adapted to receive the mold part 34, the interconnection between these parts being similar to the interconnection between. the top plate and the top mold part. Mounted within the sleeve portion of the bottom holder 32 is a movable annular piston 35, the piston being provided in its upper surface with an annular groove 36 which is adapted to receive the lower end of the'tube or shell 26. The sleeve portion 32 of the bottom holder 32 is provided with a vent or opening 31 which is positioned between the bottom mold part 34 and the annular piston 35, and which functions in a manner similar to the one dscribed in connection with Figurel. The intermediate mold parts 38, integral holders 39 and springs 49, as used in this modification, are similar to the corresponding parts shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, reference character 4| designates a tube or shell which is flanged at both ends. The flange on one end is clamped between top plate 42 and separable top mold part 43, the top plate 42 being secured to the top holder 44 by screws or other suitable means. The top mold part is formed with a sleeve 43' which acts to support the wall of the shell or tube. The base member 45 is provided with an opening 45' in which is mounted a pipe 46 which conducts pressure to the interior of the shell or tube 4|. The flange on the other end of the tube is clamped between separable bottom mold part 41 and the base member 45, the bottom mold part 41 being mounted in the bottom holder 48 which is attached to the base member 45 by screws or other suitable means. Between the top and bottom holders a plurality of separable mold parts 49, integral holders 50 and springs 51 is provided similar to the assembly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5.

The mechanism for collapsing the contractible mold and for preliminarily bulging the shell or tube shown in Figure 5 will now be described. Referring first to Figure 9, a stud and roller 52 carried by the punch-holder 53 engages the slot 54 in an arm of the lever 55 fulcrumed at 56. A cam member 51 is attached by screws or other suitable means to the other arm of lever 55. The cam member 51 is provided with a curved surface having an arcuate portion 58 concentric with the fulcrum 56, and the cam surface 59 which forms a continuation of the arcuate portion 58. The cam surface 59 is so formed as to permit the leversto move a greater distance than the plunger 24'so as not to'increase the pressure in the collapsed tube to too great an extent due to the decrease in volume of the collapsed shell or tube. The cam surface, therefore, gives a differential movement to the levers and to the plunger. Lever 60, fulcrurned at 6|, carries a roller 62 which is adapted to engage the curved surface of the cam member 51, and the end 63 of the lever is adapted to engage an arm of the lever 64 which is fulcrumed at 65. Lever 64 has a forked end 66 adapted to press downwardly on the lugs or projections 25 of the sleeve 22 for the purpose of compressing the contractible mold. The punch-holder 53 is shown holding the plunger 24 in the position shown in Figure 5, and during the first part of the downward movement the roller 62 is on the concentric part 58 of the cam member 51 and no movement is given to the lever 63. Upon further downward movement of the punch-holder, the movement of the levers commences and the forked end 66 resting on the projections or lugs 25 presses downwardly to collapse the contractible mold and to form the corrugatedvshell or tube. The roller 62 is then on the cam-shaped part 59 of the cam member 51 which is farthest from the fulcrum 56, but it is to be noted that the end 66 of the lever 64 has been moved downwardly a greater distance than the plunger 24 due to the shape of the cam surface 59 on the cam member 51. Beyond this part of the cam there may be another concentric part permitting a further downward movement of the plunger after a complete compression of the contractible mold without any further movement of the levers so that the shell or tube may be further extended to completely fill the contractible mold.

Referring now to Figure 10, a lever 61, is fulcrumed at 68 and has a free arm 69 which is spaced adistance from the punch-holder 53 at the beginning of the operation, so that a slight movement of punch-holder 53 and plunger 24 is possible before lever 61 is moved. Another lever I0 is fulcrumed at II and has a free arm 12 provided with a forked end 13. which presses downwardly on lugs on top-plate 22. The outer ends of the other arms of the levers 61 and ID are connected by a link I4 It is .to be noted that free arm I2 of lever I0 is longer than free arm 69 on lever 61, so that during the collapsing operation the forked end I3 of lever 10 travels a greater distance than the end of lever GI and, consequently, the contractible mold is moved downwardly at a faster rate than the plunger 24.

A slight downward movement of the punch-holder 53 moves it into contact with the end of free arm 69, and brings the plunger 24 into such position as to form the bulgings I5, and the resultant creasings 16. Further movement of the punch-holder forces the end of free arm 69 downwardly and due to the interconnectionof levers GI and I0, the forked end 13 of lever I0 forces the lugs or projections 25 on top plate 22 downwardly to collapse the contractible mold and form the corrugated tube or shell. Due to the fact that free arm I2 of lever 'Illis longer ,than free arm 69 of lever 61, the contractible mold is moved downwardly at a faster rate than the plunger 24 so that there is not too great a pressure in the collapsed tube due to the decrease in volume of the collapsed tube.

In the forms shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 'I, it will be apparent that a downward pressure is exerted on the top plate so as to collapse the contractible mold to form the corrugated'article. In Figures 1 and 2, the preliminary bulging of the 0 tube or shell is obtained by increasing the pressure in the interior of the tube by conducting fluid pressure through the tube or pipe II, and

in .Figures 6 and 7 the preliminary bulging is caused by allowing an initial pressure to be exerted through pipes 34' and 46, respectively. In Figure 5, the preliminary bulging is brought about by the initial downward movement -of the plunger 24 which increases the pressure in the interior of the shell or tube to cause thebulging.

The operation of the invention will now be described. Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the shell or tube I is placed in the contractible mold,

the curved leaf springs l5 functioningto keep the individual mold parts in correct spaced relation. The open end of the shell or tube is placed in the groove 20 of the piston l9. An initial pressure is then exerted in the interior of the shell or tube by fluid pressure conducted thereto by the tube or pipe II, and the initial pressure serves to cause a preliminary bulging of the tube and also of the tube or shell is created by downward movement of the plunger 24. Referring first to Figure 9 which shows a mechanism for collapsing a contractible mold, it will be seen that downward movement of the punch-holder 53 during the initial part of the movement only causes downward movement of the plunger 24, while the levers remain stationary. This is due to the fact that the roller 62 is controlled by a concentric part of the cam member 51. Further'downward movement of the punch-holder 53 brings the roller 62 in contact with the cam surface 59 of the cam member .51, and the downward movement of forked end 66 of lever 64, together with downward movement of the ,plunger 24, takes place and the contractible mold is collapsed. The end 66 of lever 64 has moved a greater distance than the plunger 24 due to the cam surface 59 previously described.

Figure 10 shows anotherform of mechanism 1 for collapsing the contractible mold which may be substituted for the mechanism shown in Figure 9. The end 69 of lever 61 is spaced from the punch-holder 53 and the initial downward movement of punch-holder 53 causes downward move- 1 ment of plunger 24 which results in the bulging of the shell or tube, and further downward movement forces the free ends 69 and I3 of levers 61 and I0 downwardly to collapse the contractible mold. During the latter part of the movement, 2 end I3 of lever 16 has moved a greater distance than the plunger 24 due to the long arm 12 so that there is not too great a pressure developed in the collapsed tubedue to the decrease in volume of the collapsed tube. f

The operation of the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, but the method of sealing the ends of the tubes is slightly different; In Figure 6, the tube is shown as being open at both ends and'the top plate 3 21 is provided with a V-shaped groove 28 for receiving one end of the tube or shell, and the piston in the bottom holder 32 is provided with a V-shaped groove 36 which receives the other end of the tube or shell 26. In Figure 7, the tube is shown as being provided with flanged ends, one end being clamped between the top plate 42 and top mold part 43, and the other end being clamped between the base member 45 and the bottom mold part 41. In connection with Figures, 6 and '7, it is, to be noted that the fluid pressure is introduced through one end of the tube and the external axial pressure is applied at the opposite end of the tube to collapse the contractible mold.

The shells or tubes whichare to be operated on are not restricted to shells or tubes of a circular cross section. It is obvious that the contractible mold may have any desired transverse or longior shells formed by using my apparatus are not restricted to symmetrical shapes nor to uniform or concentric enlargements of the shell or tube.

This application is filed as a division of my pending application Serial No. 726,671, filed July 18, 1924, entitled Method of and apparatus for making hollow articles.

' What I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a contractible mold, a holder, a piston slidably mounted within said holder for 6 sealing the open end of a shell or tube, and means for collapsing said contractible mold.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a contractible mold, a holder, piston means slidably mounted in said holder for seal- 6 ing the end of a shell or tube therein, means for conducting fluid pressure into one end of the shell or tube to cause a preliminary bulging thereof, and means for applying an axial pressure on the other end of the tube. 7

3. The method of making expansible and contractible walls, which comprises placing spaced rings and a holder around a shell or tube, seal ing the open end of the shell or tube by means of a movable piston in the holder, causing a pre- 7 tudinal form. Furthermore, the corrugated tubes liminary bulge in the shell or tube, and then collapsing the rings.

, 4..,The method of making expansible and contractible walls which comprises sealing the ends of an open-ended shell or tube, conducting pressure into one end of the tube or shell to form. a preliminary bulging thereof, and then applying an axial external pressure on the other end of the tube.

5. The method of making a corrugated tubular member which comprises mounting heads upon the opposite open ends of a tubular blank, connecting the tube to a source of fluid pressure through an opening in one .of the heads,'bulging the wall of the tube outwardly while supporting the wall of the tube at intervals, and then forming corrugations in the tube while supporting the wall of the tube by internal fluid pressure introduced through the opening in the head.

6. A method of making a thin wall, corrugated, tubular element, which comprises positioning an open-ended tubular blank between heads, one of which heads is provided with an opening communicating with the interior of the assembly, supporting the assembly with a series of rings spaced at uniform intervals through the length of the-assembly, and designed to prevent expansion of the tube at points of support, supplying fluid under pressure through the opening in the head for producing a preliminary bulging of the wall of the tube, and thereafter subjecting the assembly to an endwise pressure to contract the tube in length, while maintaining the internalfluid pressure suflicient to sustain the walls of the tube during the contracting operation.

7. A method of making a corrugated tubular member, which comprises sealing both ends of a tubular member except for the provision of a restricted liquid opening through one end, connecting a source of fluid supply to the opening, providing the exterior of the tube with a series of encircling supports spaced lengthwise of the tube, exerting an internal fluid pressure to sustain the walls of the tube. and cause a preliminary bulging thereof, thereafter subjecting the tube to an endwise contracting pressure while permitting freedom of movement of the supports lengthwise of the tube.

8. The method of making a corrugated tubular member, which comprises sealing both ends of an open-ended tubular member except for a restricted opening through one end, connecting the opening with a source of fluid pressure, assembling about the tube a series of supporting disks each having an opening corresponding to the outer diameter 'of the tube, maintaining the disks 'in alinement, subjecting the tube to an internal fluid pressure to sustain the walls of the tube between the supports, subjecting the tube to an endwise contracting pressure while permitting the disks to move lengthwise of the tube in alinement therewith and maintaining the internal fluid pressure during thecontracting movement.

9. The method of making a corrugated tubular member which comprises sealing both ends of a tubular member except for a restricted opening through one end, connecting the opening with a source of liquid pressure, assembling a series of divisible plates lengthwise of the tube, each of the plates having an opening corresponding to the exterior diameter of the tube, maintaining the plates in alinement with the axis of the tube, subjecting the tube to an internal liquid pressure to bulge the walls of the connecting the interior of the blank through the opening in the head with a source of fluid supply, supplying fluid under substantial pressure to the interior of the blank through the opening to form a series of preliminary bulges in the wall of the blank, and forming a series of bellows folds while maintaining the internal fluid pressure.

11. The method of making expansible and contractible walls which comprises placing a shell or tube in a contractible mold and a holder, sealing or tube to cause a preliminary bulging thereof,

and then collapsing the ccntractible mold while the shell or tube is under sustained pressure.

13. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a contractible mold adapted to support a shell or tube, means for sealing both ends of the shell or tube, hydraulic means for creating a pressure in the interior of the shell or tube, and means for collapsing the contractible mold, said hydraulic means being operated at a slower rate during a portion of the operation.

14. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a contractible mold adapted to surround a shell or tube, means for sealing one end of the shell or tube by a movable piston, hy-

draulic means for creating an initial pressure in hydraulic means in advance of said lever means,

said last-named means including a pivoted cam.

16. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a contractible mold for surrounding a shell or tube, means for sealing both ends of the shell or tube, hydraulic means for creating an initial pressure in the interior of the shell or tube, lever means for collapsing said contractible mold, and means for operating said lever means at a faster rate than said hydraulic means during a portion of the operation.

17. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a contractible mold forsurrounding a shell or tube, means for sealing both ends of the shell or tube, plunger means adapted to partially expand a portion of the shell or tube, and means including levers and a cam member for collapsing the shell or tube, said cam member being so shaped as to permit differential movement of the plunger means and said levers.

18. An apparatus of the character described, including a contractible mold having a top holder and a top mold part in said holder, a piston in said holder and adapted to seal the open end of a shell or tube, and means whereby said contractible mold may be collapsed.

19. An apparatus of the character described, including a contractible mold having a top holder and a top mold part in said holder, an annular piston slidably mounted in said holder adapted for sealing the open end of a shell or tube, and means for collapsing said contractible mold.

20. An apparatus of the character described, including a contractible mold having a top holder and a top mold part in said holder, a piston slidably mounted in the top holder and adapted for sealing the open end of a shell or tube, said holder being provided with an opening between said 'pis ton and said top mold part to permit movement of the piston when pressure is applied to the interior of the shell or tube, and means for collapsing said contractible mold.

21. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a contractible mold, said mold being provided with a top holder and a top mold part in said holder, a piston slidably mounted in said holder and adapted to seal the open end of a shell or tube, said piston being provided with means to receive the open end of the shell or tube.

22. An apparatus of the character described,

comprising a contractible mold, said mold being provided with a top holder and a top mold part in said holder, a'piston slidably mounted in said holder and adapted to seal the open end of a shell or tube, said piston being provided with 5 V-shaped grooves adapted to receive the open end of a tube or shell.

23. An apparatus of the character described, including a contractible mold having a holder and a mold part in said holder, 9. piston slidably mounted in said holder and adapted for sealing the open end of a shell or tube, said holder being provided with an opening between said piston and said mold part to permit movement of the piston when pressure is applied to the interior of the shell or tube.

24. An apparatus of the character described, including a contractible mold having an end hollow holder, a fluid pressure actuated piston slidably mounted within said holder and adapted for sealing the open end of a shell or tube.

25. An apparatus of the character described,

including a contractible mold having a hollow top holder, a mold part in said holder, a piston slidably mounted in said holder and adapted for sealing'the open end of a shell or tube, said holder being provided with means whereby said piston may be moved when pressure is applied to the interior of the shell or tube.

26. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a contractible mold, said mold being provided with'an end holder, a piston slidably mounted withinsaid holder and adapted to seal the open end of a shell or tube, said piston being provided with means adapted toreceive the open end of a shell or tube.

JOSEPH G. C. MANTLE. 

